"There Was A Country" By Chinua Achebe

"There Was A Country" - by renowned writer, Chinua Achebe. Just read several pages and I must confess, "It's an archival piece."

The book remains very controversial as it touches both ethnic and tribal issues that led to the most devastating civil war to have hit Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria.

So far, reviews have focused on a part of the book where the author's assertions, especially where he attributed the suffering of Biafrans to the food blockage policy that was championed by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who was then the Federal Commissioner of Finance.

Open Letter To "Dundees"

Nigeria!!! I don't understand! Lives and properties seem worthless in the face of recurrent killings and bombings. Brother's keeper now brother's destroyer. Every weekend without a bomb blast now seem a birthday celebration without a gift.

As the government continues to tackle ethnic, tribal and religious crisis on one hand, it loots the land of its resources on the other hand. At least, we're assured of an outpour of condemnation and criticism statements. But, with no arrest nor justice forthcoming, curbing the situation is just another religious mirage of God working wonders without the human machinery.

Although no guarantee for security, jobs, electricity or basic amenities, with full assurance of incessant corruption, we've continued to nosedive more and more into a Banana Republic-like system of government.

My Daddy Is A Liar And A Flirt

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 ::: My Daddy Is A Liar And A Flirt

It would be foolish to think facebook will shutdown before your kids learn ABC.

But the sad news is not the shutting down of social networks, but when children grow up to read the comments (foolishness) of their parents.

Be cautious of what you write on social networks. You may not know this, but should know search engines store "caches". Which means, your posts or comments can still be dugged out by generations yet unborn.

Life is not all about "sex", "fame", being "classy" or "style". Stick with me, whether you like it or not, facebook keeps deactivated accounts.

Just as kids are eager to learn about their origin, they'll dig out your past lifestyle out of curiosity.

::: Mummy, daddy said abortion is bad but he's a liar, he aborted aunt Caro's pregnancy but he never told you. I saw it on facebook.

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BC to enlighten

26 Years And Still Searching | Dele Giwa

Late Dele Giwa

Today marks exactly 26 years that iconic journalist and one of the founders of Newswatch magazine, Dele Giwa was assassinated through a parcel bomb, the first of its kind in the history of the country.

The circumstance of his murder could only be visualized when watching a high profile thriller movie.

Twenty six years after his murder, no one has been arrested or brought to book for his murder.

"This attitude of the federal government and the security agencies in Nigeria, from time immemorial historically, tells of the nature of the country called Nigeria, and that its leadership (that were filled with foot soldiers with no education, at all) is filled thugs, that are always very disrespectful of human life; and within them, there is no abiding social grace and love, and especially, when the other or victim is from another angle, so called tribe.

Amidst their crimes against humanity in Nigeria, there has been no machinery of accountability establish to grill the so called Nigerian leaders before or when leaving office."

May his humlbe Soul continue to RIP

“Remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS.” - Mahatma Gandhi

Read the interview of Dr. Taiyemiwo Ogunade with SaharaReporters, on the assassination of Dele Giwa:

http://saharareporters.com/interview/%E2%80%9Cmohammed-buba-marwa-delivered-letter-bomb-killed-dele-giwa%E2%80%9D-dr-taiyemiwo-ogunade

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Who Is Talking About this??? Austerity In Africa

Joyce Banda, Malawi President

In a recent development, welcomed by the good people of Malawi, Joyce Banda, Malawi President announced that she will take a 30 percent pay cut to show that she will sacrifice personally as part of her government's austerity measures.

The newly appointed Africa's second female president, after Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, came into power in April following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika and has since then made tremendous efforts to redeem and rebuild the confidence of the great people of Malawi.

In an interview granted to the BBC correspondent, she said, "I am the servant of the people..."

According to her, her mission in life is to help women and youth gain social and political empowerment through business and education.

On the contrary, down here in Nigeria, where we constantly live in the shadow of the past, no one dare confront either of the three tiers of government for salary cuts, even though we (Nigerians) run the most expensive democracy in the world. 

Nigerian Senators receive hypothetically at least N2, 800,000 monthly multiplied by 109 senators = N305, 200,000.

Hon. Reps receive hypothetically at least N1, 800,000 monthly multiplied by 360 Honourables = N648, 000,000.

Are the Nigerian Senators or Honourables really servants? At least, each member of the house of Assembly is allocated certain fund to carry out projects in their various jurisdiction per year. Are they functioning in that capacity?

Perhaps, the problem is not the senators nor the Reps but the media who are the "Fourth Estate of the Realm". The media checkmates the legislators and the executives.

Unfortunately, most media houses down here in Nigeria are owned by politicians. Controlled journalism you'll say. Where journalists are strategically controlled and compelled with starvation to compromise professional ethics. Living from hand to mouth due to poor salary arrangement, running from one press conferences to another to earn enough to sustain.

However, Austerity measure is not a new phenomena in the African democratic settings. You'll recall the great "Abami Eda", Baba Fela Anikulapo, in his song titled "Teacher don teach me nonsense", says ‘austerity makes him laugh because it is beyond crying. 

According to the high-life legend, The government steals money from the country, the same government is introducing austerity measures—forcing the poor people to pay for their own greed and calling it ‘austerity measures’. 

:::Government Propaganda:::

According to Joseph Goebbels, a German politician and Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie.

It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”

Nevertheless, lies told repeatedly would never metamorphose into truth.

But like they say, "This is Nigeria, and anything can happen."

From my manageable room, down here in Abuja, Nigeria's political hub of Africa's most corrupt government officials, where job availability is uncertain, whereas authority stealing is most assured, I continue to pray for the media revolution.

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How Safe Is Nigeria? U.S. State Department Travel Warning for Nigeria

Nigerians, How safe is your state?

How safe is Nigeria for tourists or Nigerians in Nigeria? What states are no-go-area for you?

As a foreigner, If really you must travel through Nigeria, there are states that the United State government listed early this year that must be avoided. 

So, I'm asking, as a Nigerian, can you help narrow down touring through Nigeria to some (safe) states for a tourist to enjoy his/her tour?

"Based on current safety and security risks, the U.S. government now requires advance permission for essential travel to a number of states in the Niger Delta, including Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers; the Southeastern states of Abia, Edo, Imo; the city of Jos in Plateau State, Bauchi and Borno States in the northeast; and the Gulf of Guinea."

Using the Nigeria map to avoid those states listed by the US government, is it possible tour to country without being kidnapped, gunned down or even bombed?

Other reports list a number of Northern Nigeria states as more dangerous during the night. But are they really safe during the day for tourist? 

"Curfews are currently in effect for the cities of Gusau (Zamfara State), Kano (Kano State), Maiduguri (Borno State), Minna (Niger State), Potiskum (Yobe State), and Yola and Mubi (Adamawa State). Canadians in affected areas are urged to limit their essential movements to daylight hours, avoid all public gatherings, keep a supply of basic foods on hand, monitor the security situation and closely follow the advice of local authorities, especially with respect to curfews."

"Kidnappings are a particular threat in the Niger Delta region, but can occur elsewhere in the country. On May 31, 2012, an Italian national was kidnapped in Kwara State. On January 26, 2012, a German national was kidnapped in Kano and then killed on May 31, 2012. A British national and an Italian national were kidnapped in Kebbi on May 12, 2011, and killed by their captors on March 8, 2012."

The list of states detailed in by the US government can help narrow down on states that don't pose any threat to life. Relatively, as much as all states in the country are opposed to the recurrent killings and reprisal attacks, you'll notice that most of the states that have more insurgents are either sharing border to other countries, Islamic extremists states or oil rich states.


"The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Nigeria, and continues to recommend that U.S. citizens avoid all but essential travel to the following states because of the risk of kidnappings, robberies, and other armed attacks: Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Plateau, Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi, Borno, and Kano states. "

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=218000

http://www.travelinsurancereview.net/2012/03/01/u-s-state-department-travel-warning-for-nigeria-2/

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_5739.html

Nigerians, how safe is your state? 

Contrary to US Gov list of avoidable states, would you recommend your state for tourists?

What's your view or opinion?

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